The Knowtbook

Current Knowtbook users:
Don’t worry, the Knowtbook is still accessible! It will work, as usual, through October 31, 2019. At the end of October I will stop updating it, but it’s yours to keep forever.

You can add it to your own WorkFlowy account to save it, as it is, in your own WorkFlowy account. You can do this by clicking the “Add to my WorkFlowy” button.

If you prefer to not keep it in your WorkFlowy account, you can export it. To do this, hover over The Knowtbook bullet and choose Export from the menu.

In the next window, copy and paste it into a document of your choice (like Word or Google Docs). Or, download it via the download link.

Do you wish someone trustworthy would go through all the social media, marketing and blogging information and pull out the best stuff? Well, I’m your gal.

The Knowtbook is unlike other digital products about online business & social media. It’s not an ecourse, an ebook or a blog, although it has components of all three. It’s straightforward and to the point, with no fluff.

Many digital products on similar topics are built beautifully, with professionally produced videos and printable course materials. The problem? They can’t be updated easily or quickly to keep up with the constantly changing social media landscape.

This is how the Knowtbook is different. It may not be as fancy, but it can be updated in a flash.

The Knowtbook is my personal digital notebook. As the name suggests, it’s where I save notes—things I’ve learned from personal experience, from reading until my eyeballs nearly fall out and from watching others.

It covers the topics I’ve followed passionately for the last 13+ years like online business, social media, internet marketing, blogging and working from home.

If you want to pick my brain, the Knowtbook is my brain. Pick away.

Here’s a snapshot of what the homepage looks like today (although it’s likely to change):

You may look at it and be perplexed. Understandable. It doesn’t look like much. But what you don’t see is all the pages and pages of information tucked away underneath all those main sections.

The Knowtbook is not like the highly polished products other bloggers put out. Those are amazing, but I’ve kept this intentionally simple, and low cost. Here’s a video to give you a peek inside:

There is a flood of digital products out there intended to help you start a blog or an online business. The popular format includes training videos, printables and perhaps a forum or a private Facebook group. The Knowtbook is not the same. It’s more like a reference manual. Here are some things to know:

1. It will look empty

The first time you open it up, you might think, “What? That’s it? There’s nothing here!” Ah, don’t worry. Click that first bullet as instructed and you’ll soon see how boatloads of information are neatly stored. That first screen is like a table of contents. Think book rather than multi-media presentation.

2. Not immediate access, within 24 hours access

I’ve long used a lovely tool called WorkFlowy to store my notes and I just don’t want to abandon its simplicity. WorkFlowy was never intended to be a whiz-bang digital product distribution platform. Therefore, it takes a tad longer to process your request once you’ve completed your purchase. Rest assured, you’ll be notified via email as soon as you have access. (And by the way, it often happens way sooner than 24 hours.)

3. Real time & always changing

The Knowtbook really is my notebook. I’m constantly adding, editing or rearranging things. On the inside, you’ll see what I see, in real time. In other words, things might change right before your eyes. I hope it’s not disconcerting. Personally, I like it because it feels like I’m talking right to you.

Why are you putting the Knowtbook out there?

Those who’ve asked me for consulting or coaching. Several years ago I started a waiting list for those who wanted to work with me one on one. I eventually closed it when it reached nearly 150.

Those who’ve already used my blog posts to start their own blog and want to get more in-depth information.

Authors, speakers, small business owners, parents, artists, writers, consultants and anyone who wants to use the internet for small business.

How’s the Knowtbook different than your blog?

Much of it is the same, but you’ll find more depth here. It’s not so wordy. It’s more organized. The structure will allow me to keep it better updated (I hope). If you want more of my strategy behind building my own online business, the Knowtbook might be helpful.

Sounds a lot like your other stuff. Will there be overlap?

Yes, a lot. There will be overlap with my blog and the Useletter®. In addition, you can find about 99% of this information for free online.

So if I can get all this for free elsewhere, why should I pay?

It’s experience, not just information. What I’m offering here is 13+ years worth of my experience, research, understanding and expertise.

It’s more than blogging. I’ve written for many years about blogging. Blogging is great, but it’s changing. This is about online business.

It’s organized. Instead of just putting things in categories, I’ve tried to put them in order.

It’s minimal. Raise your hand if you’re tired of all the flashing lights, ads and fast-moving flows of information all vying for your attention.

It’s simple. I like info that’s easily accessible. Many informational products and sites have become a lesson in complexity. This is intentionally lightweight.

It’s distilled. Can you get this information free online? Yep, but it’s tricky to weed through the vast sea of information and pick out what’s relevant, what’s current and what works.

You said it was cheaper than similar products. How so?

There are countless products about starting an online business, internet marketing, making money blogging and the like. Many of them costs hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. I’ve paid for some of these products myself. To be sure, many offer great value. However, I’ve gotten many emails from readers for whom spending that much is simply not an option. So, I chose to skip the bells & whistles and fancy production to keep costs down. In the Knowtbook you may not get professionally produced videos and highly branded workbooks, but you will get solid, in-depth information that gets updated regularly.

Hmmm…I’m not sure. Convince me.

If you need to be convinced, I recommend you pass. This is not meant to be a hard sell for a product as much as it is an inside look for those with an interest in my personal process and thinking. If you’re skeptical (I get that!), subscribe to the Useletter® or check out my blog posts to get to know me first. Both of those are free.

Do you give refunds?

Yes. If you find that it’s not your style or it wasn’t what you were expecting, shoot me an email within 30 days and I’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

How long have you been doing this?

I started a hobby blog in 2004. In 2010 I began transitioning from blogger to online business owner. It has since turned into a full-fledged online business making a very comfortable full-time income.

Did you get investors and stuff?

How does online business compare to a brick and mortar business?

I’m not sure since I have no experience in brick and mortar businesses, but I’d guess I put in at least as much work.

What are you like in real life?

I’m a thinker. I’m not a doer. I come up with endless ideas. I don’t enjoy implementation, nor am I good at it.

I’m an introvert. I prefer to work alone. For me, the two hardest parts of online business are (1) social media and (2) building relationships.

I’m frugal. I don’t like debt. I find free solutions whenever possible. I actively seek out ways to get the most bang for my buck.

I’m not cheap. I’m very happy to pay good money for good help or good tools. I love to give.

I like small & nimble. I call myself a minimalist business owner. I’d much prefer lower revenue with the ability to pivot on a dime, rather than higher revenue with a big team or large infrastructure. Meetings are not my thing, nor are business “machines” and red tape.

I’m picky. I have an eye for quality, but I have trouble knowing what I want until I see it. I never ship as quick as I’d like.

I like change. I take this online business thing one year at a time. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing it long-term. I hold it loosely.

I go with my gut. I wing it and fly by the seat of my pants. This wouldn’t work in a big company, but building a big company is not my goal. I lose out on a lot of efficiency and revenue as a result. I’m fine with that. I just turned 40. Life’s too short not to do things the way I’m wired.